Key findings
- Snapchat on the web allows some features without the app, but viewing Snaps is limited.
- To access Snapchat from a computer, use a web browser and follow the platform-specific steps.
- The web version does not allow you to open snaps, but you can send snaps, video chat, and send messages.
Unlike most social media platforms, Snapchat focuses more on News as an algorithm that organizes a timeline of posts. While Snapchat has some publicly accessible features, the platform has become synonymous with sending funny photo messages that Snap fasteners But part of Snapchat’s charm is that messages disappear after being opened and stories disappear after 24 hours. This lends a certain urgency to the social platform and has some wondering if there’s a way to access Snapchat without the app.
Snapchat on the web allows users to access some of the platform’s features without the app. However, the web-based version of Snapchat has more limitations, most notably the inability to actually view a Snap sent by a friend. The web platform is also not a solution if you don’t have an account – because the browser version requires users to log in first or register a new account.
However, some features of the web-based Snapchat can be more convenient, like video chatting with a laptop instead of holding your smartphone for an hour, or simply not having to get up from the couch if you leave your phone in the other room. Here’s how to access Snapchat without the app, plus other tricks and tips for using the web-based version of the popular social platform.
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Can you access Snapchat without the app?
Yes, but there are limitations when using Snapchat for computers
Snapchat is primarily a mobile app and users find most of its features when using the platform that way. However, Snapchat also offers a web-based version that can be accessed through a web browser.
The web browser has one important limitation that makes this version significantly different from the app: Snaps cannot be opened in the web-based app. If you received a text message saying you were sent a Snap but don’t have the app, the web browser version is not a solution for viewing the image.
So what can you do with Snapchat on a computer? While you can’t see a Snap, you can send one from a laptop using a web browser. The web version also supports video chats, audio calls, and text messages.
Snapchat for computers: How to use Snapchat without the app
You need a computer, a web browser and an internet connection
To access Snapchat without the app, you will need a computer as the web-based version does not work on mobile devices. However, if you have a laptop or desktop computer, all you need is a web browser and an internet connection.
- Visit www.snapchat.com in the web browser Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Safari.
- Log in with your username and password.
- You may be asked to verify your account by opening the Snapchat app and confirming that it is you who wants to log in.
- You will be asked to Give Snapchat permission to access your camera and microphonenecessary features for tasks like video calling and sending snaps.
- Once you’re logged in, you can click the camera to send a Snap, create a Bitmoji, or access chats and stories from the menu on the left.
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How to send a snap without the Snapchat app
On Snapchat for the web, click the camera icon
Once you’re on the web-based Snapchat, you can still send Snaps (but not open them). Here’s how.
- Log in to web-based Snapchat using the steps above.
- On the home screen, do the following: Click on the camera icon.
- In the pop-up, grant the website permission to access your camera.
- Your webcam feed will then appear on a screen similar to the mobile app. Press the shutter button (the circle below) to take a photo. Then click “Send to” and choose where you want to send the image, or click “Download” to save it to your device instead.
- Optional: You can click the three-dot menu in the corner of your camera feed and switch to other cameras connected to your account, such as your smartphone.
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How to start a Snapchat chat from a web browser
Snapchat offers three ways to chat from your computer
Even if you can’t see Snaps, you can still chat with text, pictures, voice, or video calls. Here’s how.
- Log in to web.snapchat.com using the steps above.
- In the left sidebar, select the name of the friend you want to chat with.
- From this page you can chat in three different options:
- Use the text field to send a message.
- Click the call icon in the top right corner to start a voice or video call.
- Use the photo icon to share an existing photo or the camera icon to take a new picture from your device.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you open a Snapchat account without an account?
Snaps can only be opened in the mobile app, not the web-based version. Because you need an account to use the mobile app, you can’t open a Snap without first downloading the app and creating your own account.
Q: Can you take a screenshot on Snapchat online?
While Snapchat is designed to make messages disappear, there are ways for recipients of your Snap to save them. Like on a mobile device, you can take a screenshot when using Snapchat on a computer. The company advises users not to send anything they wouldn’t want someone to screenshot.
